Private schooling

sneezyboots

Person_one wrote: »

How do you define proper?

The parents pay exorbitant fees, the children wear little straw boaters and are in classes of less than 10, the building is beautiful and old and grand looking, but because its run essentially to make a profit several of the younger classes are taught by teaching assistants, as they're cheaper.

It gets good SATS results, so I suppose nobody cares.

I'm talking secondary, not primary so SATS don't even come into it. Give me the name of a school and a quick google and I can tell you if it is 'proper'.

Nobody in my school wore straw, are classes were 25 (not far off state), yes we had a listed building which is one of the most beautiful halls in the country but we didn't have a single TA in the school and as I am now friendly with a few of my teachers I can tell you they get paid A LOT more than teachers in the state sector. They just have the luxury that most of their children want a good education so work hard. Those that don't have parents who will be on their case if the teacher calls them up and says x has been misbehaving, unlike the majority of state parents who go, "yea, do I care? They are your problem at school!"

Person_one

I'm not going to tell you the name, I care about not revealing who I am on here! You'll just have to trust me that its real and that parents are really paying for it.

It is a primary though.

emsywoo123

Person_one wrote: »

It gets good SATS results, so I suppose nobody cares.

It is a very, very rare private prep that will entertain SATS.

SATS participation is generally considered a sign that the school is not quite as "independent" as one might hope for.....

sneezyboots

Person_one wrote: »

I'm not going to tell you the name, I care about not revealing who I am on here! You'll just have to trust me that its real and that parents are really paying for it.

It is a primary though.

Fair enough. I wouldn't send my kids to private primary though. They are a waste of money and actually (I believe) harm your children socially.

By secondary they will have their social skills and private just surrounds them with better opportunities and many children who are encouraged to do the best in life and work hard. The expectations in state secondary are far too low for my liking. That said, I was always told in teacher training that a bright child will learn in spite of the teacher, a less able child won't.

milliebear00001

sneezyboots wrote: »

I'm talking secondary, not primary so SATS don't even come into it. Give me the name of a school and a quick google and I can tell you if it is 'proper'.

Nobody in my school wore straw, are classes were 25 (not far off state), yes we had a listed building which is one of the most beautiful halls in the country but we didn't have a single TA in the school and as I am now friendly with a few of my teachers I can tell you they get paid A LOT more than teachers in the state sector. They just have the luxury that most of their children want a good education so work hard. Those that don't have parents who will be on their case if the teacher calls them up and says x has been misbehaving, unlike the majority of state parents who go, "yea, do I care? They are your problem at school!"

Tut, tut - lots of stereotypes on this thread.

There are undoubtedly some fine private schools, which offer an amazing educational experience. There are also many state schools that offer the same.

As a teacher, I would largely agree that effort and perspiration is what makes the real difference to the kind of education your child will receive - state or private.

I see quite a few children who have been 'eased out' of their private school when the school realises they are not going to cut the mustard academically. They simply don't want those children in their exam score statistics. The state sector picks them up.

I would say that teachers in the state system are far far better at teaching all types of children - i.e. not just the well-behaved, not just those who are motivated, have supportive home lives. In effect, not just those who are 'easy to teach'.

Before committing myslef to the private sector, I'd ask 'what kind of child is mine, and where will they most likely flourish? Which school will play to their strengths and meet their needs. Square pegs in round holes do not make for a happy school life.

Person_one

emsywoo123 wrote: »

It is a very, very rare private prep that will entertain SATS.

SATS participation is generally considered a sign that the school is not quite as "independent" as one might hope for.....

They do them, but they don't report them, or something.

They use the results for advertising.

emsywoo123

Person_one wrote: »

They do them, but they don't report them, or something.

They use the results for advertising.

Are you talking about a specific school? When you say "they"?

I am trying very hard not to read the thread as I have strong opinions on the subject, but it has been done to death so I'm trying not to get into it again

Person_one

emsywoo123 wrote: »

Are you talking about a specific school? When you say "they"?

I am trying very hard not to read the thread as I have strong opinions on the subject, but it has been done to death so I'm trying not to get into it again

Yes, a specific school where a friend works.

emsywoo123

Person_one wrote: »

Yes, a specific school where a friend works.

I believe this to be highly unusual.

GobbledyGook

I'm not a fan of private schools personally. My ex husband wanted our kids to go private, but each school that we went to look at I was able to point out my biggest bugbear about them - what happens if the kid isn't academic?

It's all very well excelling at maths or languages, or even sports, but what happens if wee Jonny is just an average Joe when it comes to academia? For me there was far too big a chance that at crucial times before exams a private school would quietly shift wee Jonny off their books because he was going to bring down their averages.

Mine go to a school that a lot of people I know turn their noses up at because it's not got the best of reputations in terms of academic results. However it's the best school in our area imo because they work to each child's potential. My younger daughter seems to have a knack for languages and even at her young age her teacher is encouraging that and often doubles up her ICT time with French. My older daughter struggles academically, yet the school push her as hard as she needs too be pushed, give her the extra help that she needs, but in a way that means she still loves school.

The kids are pushed hard to achieve their best, the school will bend over backwards to help kids (be they the most talented or the least talented in something) and the kids and staff are all happy. I just hope to find a secondary school with a similar ethos.